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Multiple sclerosis: cell-mediated immunity to human brain gangliosides

E Beraud1, M M Golstein, F Viallet

  • 1Laboratoire d'Immunopathologie, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille.

Autoimmunity
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to gangliosides is heightened during Multiple Sclerosis (MS) attacks. Leukocyte Migration Inhibition (LMI) tests reveal increased hypersensitivity to these glycolipids in active MS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Autoimmunity

Background:

  • Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to myelin components is implicated in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) pathogenesis.
  • Gangliosides are a recently suggested target in MS, unlike Myelin Basic Protein with controversial findings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of gangliosides in MS pathogenesis.
  • To assess cell-mediated immune response to human brain gangliosides in MS patients.

Main Methods:

  • Leukocyte Migration Inhibition (LMI) tests were performed using human brain gangliosides.
  • Participants included 39 MS patients (24 definite), 29 with Other Neurological Diseases (OND), 36 with Inflammatory Diseases (ID), and 40 healthy controls.
  • MS patients were stratified by clinical stage (attack vs. no attack).

Main Results:

  • The mean migration inhibition percentage in the MS-attack group was significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to MS without attack, OND, ID, and healthy controls.
  • Specifically, the MS-attack group showed 24.4 +/- 16.2% inhibition.
  • LMI to gangliosides was significantly increased during the active MS attack stage.

Conclusions:

  • These findings support the hypothesis of a Delayed Type Hypersensitivity (DTH) to gangliosides during active MS.
  • CMI to gangliosides may play a role in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis during its active phase.

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